KD & Ben – Duke Gardens Wedding

KD and Ben had a beautiful fall wedding at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, in Durham, North Carolina. The couple are both in the military – KD is a Marine, and Ben is in the Navy! So there were plenty of nods to that throughout their wedding. The couple met their Junior Year at the Naval Academy in their Electrical Engineering class. After moving around the country, and always being long distance, the couple is so excited to live together for the first time, and creating memories together

Before the ceremony, we got bridal portraits in the gardens, which is one of my favorite spots in Durham! Duke Gardens is so gorgeous, with so many places for portraits. KD wore a custom gown designed and made by her uncle. It was so chic and timeless, and fit her perfectly! It was so special for her to wear something her Uncle made. Her bridesmaids wore navy blue, and the flowers were filled with lots of ivory and blue. Ben wore his dress uniform for the ceremony and later changed into a suit for dancing.

Duke Gardens Wedding Ceremony

Their ceremony took place in Angle Amphitheater, with the koi pond behind them. This is such a beautiful spot of Duke Gardens, and perfect for ceremonies. During the ceremony, they had 2 of their best friends give hilarious speeches – I had never seen that before and loved it! It was such a fun touch that made their wedding even more personal, and fun!

Their reception took place under a large tent in the gardens, with long farm tables. I loved all of the lighting, which twinkled at night. KD’s fellow lady Marines did the saber arch ceremony for them to be introduced at the end of the cocktail hour. This was extra special since it was all women! We made sure to get portraits of the ladies and KD, and celebrate their service!

As a nod to their Navy and Marine background, their reception centerpieces had boats in the middle, with lots of hydrangeas and red roses throughout. And of course, the napkins said “Go Navy, Beat Army!” The couple had so much fun, dancing the night away with their family and friends.

 

 

 

Vendors:

Planning: A Swanky Affair
Venue: Duke Gardens
Bridal Gown: Custom made by Bride’s Uncle
Bridesmaids: David’s Bridal
Tent Rentals: Party Reflections
Rentals: American Party Rentals
Catering: Catering Works
Lighting: Get Lit
Cake: Mad Hatter’s Cafe
Flower: Tre Bella
Photo Booth: Zim Zoom
DJ: Vox
Hair: Tiffany Weaver
Makeup: Tiwa Lawrence
Videography: Yuri Vaysgant
Transportation: Ecostyle
Stationary: Paper Source